Assessment on Major Apple Diseases and Insect Pests in Chench and Bonke Woredas of Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia Seifu Fetena1* and Berhanu Lemma2
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Scholarly Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 4(7), pp. 394-402 July, 2014 Available online at http:// www.scholarly-journals.com/SJAS ISSN 2276-7118 © 2014 Scholarly-Journals Full Length Research Paper Assessment on major apple diseases and insect pests in Chench and Bonke Woredas of Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia Seifu Fetena1* and Berhanu Lemma2 1Arba Minch University Department of Horticulture P.O.Box 21 Arba Minch, Ethiopia 2Arba Minch University Department of Plant Science P.O.Box 21 Arba Minch, Ethiopia Accepted 14 July, 2014 Assessment on major apple diseases and insect pests was conducted in Chencha and Bonkeworedas of Gamo Gofa Zone in 2012/13 cropping season. The aim of the study was to determine occurrences and assess impacts of major diseases and insect-pests. Survey was done to assess the awareness level of the farmers about the apple insect pests and diseases. From the two woredas, five administrative kebles were purposively selected. A total of 90 respondents (73 male and 17 female) were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. In addition group discussions were made with selected farmers of the study areas. Data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics by employing SPSS software version 15. Apple scab and powdery mildew (45.1%) as measured during the survey period was the serious disease. Insect pests such as apple aphids, scale insects and green plant bugs were also observed. Royal Gala variety being replaced by Crispin in Chencha due to its susceptibility to apple scab disease. About 35% of respondents revealed that farm tools and winds were the main spreading mechanisms of major apple diseases and insect pests. About 48.3 % of the respondents indicated that they are using different traditional apple disease and insect pest control methods. About 28.3% of the respondents were revealed that 151-250 apple seedlings and apple mother trees lost due to major apple diseases and insect pests. About 28.3% of the respondents were revealed that less than 25 kg of apple fruit lost due to major apple diseases and insect pests. It can be concluded that the awareness of farmers about most of the diseases and insect pests were very low. Therefore, this study recommended that there is an urgent need from concerned offices to improve apple farming system in the study area. Key words: Assessment, Apple, Diseases, Insect pests, Respondent, Chencha and Bonke. INTRODUCTION The origin of cultivated apple is not definitely known. But, temperate fruits are widely adapted and produced at the center of origin is probably in the area containing highlands of the different regions. The crops were first Caucasus region (central Asia and the Himalayas). The brought to Chencha area in the Gamo hills by origins of the domestic apple are uncertain, but it is Missionaries (Kale-Hiwot Church) about 60 years ago. usually believed to have derived from Maluspumila, a Since and gradually the crops are well adapted in the small-fruited species that occurs naturally in Eastern area produce good quality of fruits and Europe and western Asia (John, 1986). introduced/promoted to some other different new areas Although Ethiopia is not in temperate climate zones; of the region. In SNNPR, at the present time, the temperate fruits commercially grown at hilly areas of different zones, inparticular at Chencha, Ezzo -Bo roda, Kamba, Bonke(Gamo-Gofa zone), Angacha, Doyogena (KT *Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected]. zone), Gumer, Ijsa (Gurage zone), Misha, Lemo, Duna, Fetena and Lemma 395 Soro (Hadiya zone), H/Selam (Sidama zone) and Bulle was counted, recorded on data collection sheet and (Gedeozone)(Bayeh, 2007). calculated during field observation. The questionnaires In most cases apple fruit share common diseases with were prepared. A simple random sampling technique was similar management practices. The most important used to conduct the study. Five kebles were purposively diseases occur in commercially temperate fruits grown selected from two apple growing districts of Gamo Gofa areas are apple scab, powdery mildew (PM), cankers, Zone with classifying in type of specific variety three from collar and white root rots, Leaf spots, Crown gall, and Chencha and two from Bonke. Comprehensive lists of viruses. The postharvest diseases such as Penicillium, apple growers in the selected sites were prepared. Out of Monilinia, Glomerella, Alternaria, Phomopsis, Aspergillus total 1207 apple growers from the selected woredas, spp. are reported to infect pome fruits in storage (Thind, samples of 90 farmers were selected by using the Table 2001). Apple trees are prone to several pests and for determining the sample size (Fitzgibbon and Morris, diseases depending on different local conditions. It is a 1987). A proportionate sampling procedure was adopted melancholy fact that the apple is attacked by a wide for the selection of farmer respondents from each kebele. range of pests and diseases which at worst can reduce Therefore, 45 from Chencha and 15 from Bonkeworeda the crop to zero, and damage or even kill the tree. The were selected. The data were collected with the help of yearly per head income of some farmers in the validated and pre-tested interview schedule through ChenchaWoreda has risen up to 100,000 – 300,000 birr personal interviews by the research team in addition to from pome sales only (BANRD Chencha, 2012). Thus, questioners collected by the development agents. Group today, every grower of the apple fruits in all areas of the discussions were made with selected farmers of the region focus/target in production of grafted seedlings. study areas. Photo of damaged part of the study plant However, there is a paucity of information on its had taken and then comparison of the collected data production limiting factors especially on diseases done. occurrence, distribution and severity in the areas. Therefore, in the current study, occurrences and impacts of major diseases and insect-pests of apple trees were Data Collection studied in Chencha and Bonkeworedas of Gamo Gofa Zone. All number of apple tree in the selected apple farm was counted and recorded Diagonal and W-shape sampling technique laid out to MATERIALS AND METHODS select mother apple tree The presence and absence of the major insect- pests Description of the project locations and diseases in selected apple farm recorded Percentage of infected apple trees counted and The survey was conducted at Gamo Highlands, Southern recorded Ethiopia in the two woredas named Chencha and Bonke The diseases and insect damage taken using the 0-5 because of apple become a very voluble crop of the area rating scale and percentage respectively, where 0 = no and highly cultivated over large hectares. They are symptoms (healthy), 1= slight, less than 5% of leaves located 37 and 54 km far from Arba Minch Town, affected, 2= moderate, 5-20% of leaves affected, some respectively. The mean annual temperature and rainfall yellowing, little or no defoliation, 3= extensive, 20-50% of the study areas are 22.5 and10.1-27.50c and 1201- of leaves affected, significant defoliation, 4= heavy, 50- 1600 and 810-1600mm/annum, respectively. The altitude 80% of leaves affected, severe defoliationand 5 = ranges up to 1900-2300 and501-3500m.a.s.l, extreme, 80-100% leaves affected, complete or near- respectively (GGZAARD, 2009). During the survey period complete defoliation. in selected kebeles, it was observed that apple was the Damaged fruits was rated by 0-3 scale and average main occupation of the Chencha farmers and subsistent percentage respectively for each plant where 0 = no activity in Bonkeworeda. More than 100 varieties of symptoms (healthy), 1= slight, less than 5% of fruits temperate fruits found in the study area, but the dominant affected, 2= moderate, 5-20% of fruit affected, some were about 40 and among these nine (seven old and two yellowing, little or no defoliation, 3= extensive damage. new) apple varieties were assessed in this study. Method of Data Analysis Survey methods The collected data were coded and entered in SPSS Survey was done to assess the awareness level of the software version 15. Descriptive statistics was computed farmers in Chencha and Bonkeworedas about the apple and the output presented in the form of percentages insect pests and diseases. Damaged parts of the plant using tables. Scholarly J. Agric. Sci. 396 Table 1. Occurrence of diseases and insect pests on apple leaves. No Variety Leaves Chencha Bonke Powdery Apple Aphid and Powdery Apple Scab Aphid and mildew (%) Scab (%) caterpillar (%) mildew (%) (%) caterpillar (%) 1 BR 26 57 23 31 46 12 2 Crispin 23 50 21 26 42 16 3 Granny Smith 34 23 28 16 32 20 4 Jonagoled 27 29 22 24 36 14 5 Red Delicious 30 43 18 29 35 22 6 Anna 9 15 12 5 8 3 7 Royal Galla 36 50 25 35 42 24 Source: Own survey result (2012/13) Table 2. Occurrence of diseases and insect pests on apple fruit in in the study areas according to own rating scale. No Variety Fruits Chencha Bonke Powdery mildew Apple Scab Aphid Powdery mildew Apple Scab Aphid 1 BR 0 2 1 0 2 1 2 Crispin 0 1 1 0 1 1 3 Granny Smith 0 1 1 0 1 1 4 Jonagoled 0 1 1 0 1 1 5 Red Delicious 1 1 1 0 1 1 6 Anna 0 1 1 0 0 1 7 Royal Galla 0 2 1 0 1 1 Source: Own survey result (2012/13) RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 35 mother tree and 30000 apple seedlings per three households. The disease symptoms were stunted growth, Occurrences of insect pests and diseases in the leaf fall and yellowing, branch dieback and finally died. study area during field visit/observation According to our observation the farms in which this disease occurred had the problem of drainage which is Observation data (Table 1) were collected on diseases favorable condition for the disease and we made and insect pest prevalence especially on grafted apple immediate recommendation to replace the infected apple survival and rejuvenation for field transplanting, on leave trees, use of drainage lines, deep cultivation and care for and fruit of mother trees in Chencha and Bonke Woreda management practices to the respective farmers via research Kebele’s named Shaye, Zolo and Losha; Chenchaworeda Agriculture Office.